By Wichita State Athletics
WICHITA, Kan. (goshockers.com) – No. 22 Wichita State recorded its highest ranked win in school history Tuesday night, besting the second-ranked Oklahoma State Cowgirls in a thriller, 8-7, at Wilkins Stadium.
Wichita State (31-7) had never beaten a top five program until Tuesday. The Shockers now own two top 10 wins this season, No. 9 Arkansas and No. 2 Oklahoma State.
In front of a sellout crowd, Wichita State snapped Oklahoma State’s 14-game win streak behind 14 hits. It marked just the third time this season Oklahoma State had allowed double digit hits.
Five different Shockers had multi-hit games, including three-hit games from Lauren Lucas and Taylor Sedlacek. Lauren Mills broke out of a slump, going 2-for-4 with two RBI. Sydney McKinney and Zoe Jones each singled twice and drove in a run. Sami Hood homered for the fourth time this season and Addison Barnard scored two runs to go with a single.
Lauren Howell made the start and received a no decision, but did come back in the seventh to record her first career save. She threw 4.2 innings, allowing five runs on five hits and three walks. Alison Cooper (10-3) threw 2.1 innings of relief to record the win.
Three singles in the bottom of the first had Wichita State threatening early, but an inning-ending double play kept the Shockers off the board.
The Shockers would capitalize in the bottom of the second, however. A leadoff solo home run from Hood jumpstarted a four-run frame. Wichita State would score three more, all with two outs. McKinney, Lucas and Jones all recorded consecutive RBI singles.
Oklahoma State came right back with a three-run third to cut the lead to 4-3.
Two more runs came across in the top of the fourth to give Oklahoma State its first lead of the night, 5-4.
Wichita State had its own answer. Singles from Barnard and Lucas led to the tying run on an Oklahoma State throwing error, allowing Barnard to score from second. A two-run single from Mills and another Cowgirl error put Wichita State in front, 7-5. After a groundout, Sedlacek laced an RBI single up the middle, pushing the margin to three.
The Cowgirls would not go away, immediately tacking on a pair of runs in the top of the fifth. An RBI double and RBI single made it a one-run game.
Cooper kept the lead in tact in the top of the sixth after Oklahoma State put two on base with only one out. The sophomore induced a fielder’s choice and line out to end the frame.
Howell re-entered in the top of the seventh and sat down the Cowgirls on three fly outs to secure the upset victory.
Up Next
No. 22 Wichita State heads to Memphis for a conference series with the Tigers, April 6-8.
